Shoe form



No v. 26, 1929. w. J. DE WITT 1,736,780

SHOE FORM Filed June 11, 1929 jwe 72207 Patented Nov. 26, 1929 UNITEDSTATES I 1,736,78tl

PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM 3'. DE WITT, OF AUBURN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO SHOEFORM 00., INCL, OF AUBURN, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK SHOE FORMApplication filed June 11,

This invention relates to an improvement in a shoe form moreparticularly in one of the toe form type used for the purpose ofplumping out the material forming the toe 5 of the shoe and bringing itinto a condition which simulates the one it assumes when on the humanfoot.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a toe form of theexpansible type with means for rigidly securing the form in the expandedcondition in the position which it is desired that it occupy in theshoe. A further object of this invention is to provide a toe form havingside walls and a cross brace for expanding said side walls, which bracehas adjacent one side wall a sprag or spur by which the toe form issecured into position in the shoe. Other objects will appear to oneskilled in the art from an examination of the following specificationtaken in connection with the drawings which form a part thereof and inwhich Fig. 1 is a plan view with parts broken away of a toe formembodying this inven- 95 tion; and

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view illustrating the construction ofthe toe form and particularly the means for holding the form rigidly inposition in the shoe.

w The toe form embodying this invention comprises a body 10 having apair of side walls 11 which terminate in inwardly projecting flanges 12.In one of the flanges 12 is provided a hole 13, while in the other isprovided an arcuate slot 14. Pivotally mounted in the hole 13 of theflange 12 is one end of a cross brace 15, the other end of the braceentering the slot 14 so that the side walls 11 are thereby connected.The brace 15 is preferably a length of wire provided at each end with areversely bent portion or loop 16. The end 17 of the brace 15 is againbent outwardly and then downwardly terminating in an integral verticalpost 18 which enters the hole 13. The other end 19 of the brace 15 isbent first outwardly, then back upon itself, forming the loop 20 andthen downwardly terminating in a post 21 which engages the slot 14.

It will be noted that the end 19 is coiled at 22 to supplement thenatural resiliency of the 1929. Serial No. 370,027.

wire and insure that the post 21 projects downwardly through the loop16, and projects below the loop as shown in Fig. 2. The tip of the post21 is sharpened so that it will act as a spur to hold the form in theshoe.

The method of using this shoe form will now he described briefly. Theform 10 is placed in the collapsed condition shown in Fig. 1 and thepost 21 preferably raised slightly in order that the tip will notproject below the body of the cross wire 15, as shown in Fig. 2.

After being inserted in the toe of the shoe to the full extent with theside wall at the left, as shown in Fig. 1, in contact with the materialforming the body of the shoe, the right end of the brace 15 will then bepushed about the post 18 as a pivot, the post 21 sliding in the slot 14until the toe form has attained the desired position and the toe of theshoe is properly plumped out. The post 21 is then released and its tipenters the surface of the insole of the shoe. The form 10 is thussecured in the toe of the shoe, not only by the fact it has beenexpanded to the dotted line position of Fig. 1 and therefore has africtional contact with the body of the shoe, but a by the tip of thepost 21 which prevents the unwanted retraction of the toe member fromthe toe of the shoe.

The post 21 is preferably raised by the use of a screwdriver or similarmeans inserted between the loop 20 and the upper face of the flange 12,or the post may be raised by the use of a wedge similarly inserted whichremains in position until the toe form has been clearly and squarelylocated.

It will be noted that the loops 16 of the cross wire 15 form a supportfor the toe member and that the pointed tip of the post 21 extends belowthe body of the cross brace, and thus, as shown, functions as a spur orsprag. The post 18 might be similarly extended to project below the loop16, as indicated in dotted lines on Fig. 2, and be provided with apointed tip if it be desired to provide positive means for securing theform in the shoe at bot-h sides.

While one embodiment of this invention has been shown and described andanother embodiment alluded to briefly, it will be understood thatapplicant is not limited thereto since other embodiments could be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as setforth in the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a hollow toe form adapted to be inserted in the toe of a shoe andhaving side walls, a cross brace connecting said walls, the brace beingpivotally mounted upon one side wall and having a sliding engagementwith the other side wall and a spur carried by said cross brace forengaging the insole of the shoe and securing the form in positiontherein.

2. In a hollow toe form adapted to be inserted in. the toe of a shoe andhaving side walls, a cross brace connecting said walls, the brace beingpivotally mounted upon one side wall and having a sliding engagementwith the other side wall and a spur carried by said cross brace forengaging yieldably the body of the shoe and securing the form inposition therein.

3. In a hollow toe form adapted to be inserted in the toe or a shoe andhaving side walls, a cross brace connecting said walls the brace beingpivotally mounted upon one side wall and having a sliding engagementwith the other side wall to cause the expansion or contraction of thewalls by its pivotal D1OVQ- ment and a spur carried by said cross bracefor engaging the insole of the shoe and securing the form in the shoewith the walls the desired distance apart.

l. In a hollow toe form adapted to be in serted in the toe of a shoe andhaving side walls which terminate in inwardly projectmg flanges, a crossbrace connecting said walls, the brace being pivotally mounted upon theflange of one wall and having a sl1ding engagement wlth the flange ofthe other side wall, and a spurrcarried by said cross.-

brace for engaging the insole of the shoe and securing the form in theshoe.

5. In a hollow toe form adapted to be inserted in the toe of a shoe andhaving side walls which terminate in inwardly project-- ing flanges, across brace connecting said walls, the brace being pivotally mountedupon the flange of one wall and having a sliding engagement with theflange of the other side wall, the pivotal movement of the cross bracecausing the expansion or contraction of the side walls, and a spurcarried by said cross brace for engaging the insole of the shoeandsecuring the form in the shoe with the side walls int-he desiredP08113101};

6. In a hollow toe form adapted to be-in-. sorted in the toe of a shoeand having side. walls which terminate in flanges, one ot said.

flanges having a slot therein, a cross brace connectmg the side walls,

havinma slidin en 'a ement with the a w m 1n the other flange, and aspur carried by said the brace being pivotally joined to the unslottedflange and cross brace for engaging the insole of the shoe and securingthe form therein.

7. In a hollow toe form adapted to be inserted in the toe of a shoe andhaving side walls which terminate in flanges, one of said flanges havinga slot therein, a crossbrace connecting the sidewalls, the brace beingpivotally joined to the unslotted flange and carrying means which have asliding engage,- ment with the slot ini'the other flange, such meansconstituting a spur which engages the insole of the shoe and secures theform therein.

v 8. In a hollow toe form adapted to be inserted in the toe of a shoeand having side walls which terminate in flanges, one of said flangeshaving a slot therein, a cross brace connecting the side walls, thebrace being pivotally joined to the unslotted flange and terminating ina post which has a sliding engagement with the slot and which engagesthe insole of the shoe to secure the form therein.

9. In a hollow toe form adapted to be inserted in the toe of a shoe andhaving side wal s which terminate in flanges, one of said flanges havinga hole therein and the other having an arcuate slot therein, a crossbrace onnecting the side walls and including a post which enters thehole in one flange, and second post which enters the slot in the otherflange whereby the pivotal movement of the brace about the hole in oneflange causes the second post to reciprocate in the slot and thus expandor contract the side walls, said second post being pointed. at its tipto engage the insole of the shoe and secure the form therein.

10. In a hollow toe form adapted to be inserted in the toe of a shoe andhaving side walls which terminate in flanges, one of said flanges havinga hole therein and the other having an arcuate slot therein, a crossbrace connecting the sidewalls and including a post which enters thehole in one flange, and a second post which enters the slot in the otherflange whereby the pivotal movement of the brace about the hole in oneflange causes the second post to reci rocate in'the slot and thus expandor contract the side walls, one of said posts being pointed at its tipto engage the insole of the shoe and secure the form therein.

Signed by me at Auburn, N. Y., this 7th day of June, 1929. V

IVILLIAM J. DE WVITT.

